Former Dodgers left-hander also had perfection thwarted by throwing error

LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw isn't the only tall left-handed Dodgers pitcher to lose a perfect game on a shortstop's throwing error.

Almost perfect

Before Clayton Kershaw, there have been seven previous no-hitters since 1900 that would have otherwise been perfect games if not for an error.

Date

Pitcher

Teams

7/10/09

Jonathan Sanchez

For Giants vs. Padres

8/15/90

Terry Mulholland

For Phillies vs. Giants*

6/27/80

Jerry Reuss

For Dodgers vs. Giants

7/19/74

Dick Bosman

For Indians vs. A's

9/3/47

Bill McCahan

For A's vs. Senators

7/1/20

Walter Johnson

For Senators vs. Red Sox

6/13/05

Christy Mathewson

For Giants vs. Cubs**

* Charlie Hayes made an error on the first batter of the seventh inning, who was then wiped out on a double play. Mulholland faced the minimum.

** Two errors

It also happened to Jerry Reuss on June 27, 1980, against the Giants at Candlestick Park. It also was a shortstop's bad throw after fielding a grounder (Hanley Ramirez for Kershaw, Bill Russell for Reuss) that stood as the lone blemish, with neither pitcher issuing a walk.

"I just threw it away, it's as simple as that," Russell said later of his toss into the dirt. "Later I thought, 'There's nothing I can do about it now. He can't get a perfect game, so let's go after the no-hitter."'

For Kershaw, Ramirez's error Wednesday night was committed with no outs in the top of the seventh inning trying to throw out Colorado's Corey Dickerson at first base.

The drama for Reuss ended sooner, as Russell's error was charged in the bottom of the first inning after fielding a grounder by Jack Clark. Reuss then retired the last 25 batters.

"Errors happen," said Reuss, who just authored "Bring in the Right-hander!: My 22 years in the Major Leagues."

"It was the same Russell who made an excellent play later in the game to keep the no-hitter alive. He fielded nine grounders and went three for five with an RBI in the game. Actually, the error may have helped preserve the no-hitter because Clark, who hit well against me, strained his knee running the bases that inning and he left the game in the sixth inning."

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.